A York restaurant that closed in February has finally been cleared out this week.
Rio Brazilian Steakhouse on Bridge Street shut suddenly after trading for 17 months.
The parent company, which also owns the Tomahawk Steakhouse at Lendal Cellars, had spent £400,000 transforming the former Piccolino restaurant into Rio.
The owners never gave an explanation of the York closure. Seven other branches continue to trade.
All the fixtures and fittings, including a gold flamingo, have been left in situ for four months.
But this week the large restaurant, which could serve up to 134 people, was cleared out.
Tables, chairs and kitchen equipment have been removed.
There has been speculation that the building could be the venue for a new bar coming to York.
The Katie O’Briens chain of Irish bars announced it was opening a branch here a month ago.
It has yet to disclose where it is opening, only sharing a picture it said was “a before shot” of their premises.
But this doesn’t appear to match the Rio building. And YorkMix understands a local operator is interested in taking over the Bridge Street building.